Washing apparatus



Jan. 23, 1951 l.. G. SIMMS WASHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledSept. 19, 1947 Jan. 23, 1951 L.. G. SIMMS WASHING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1947 Patented Jan. 23, y1951 WASHINGAPPARATUS Leo Gr. Simms, Glendale, Calif.,

assigner to Winkitty Products, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application September 19, 1947, Serial No. 774,965

3 Claims.

This invention relates to washing apparatus of the type adapted tofacilitate the washing of large objects such as automobiles and While inthe specification it is particularly described in connection with suchuse, it not so limited and may be used with equal advantage for thewashing of other large objects.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for washingvehicles and the like in which means for shifting from the Soaping andwashing to the rinsing operation and back again is mounted on the handof the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatus inwhich the entire apparatus is carried by the user and in which by themanipulation of the controls, permits Soaping, rinsing and dryingoperations to be performed at the will of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Washing apparatusfor vehicles or other large objects in which the soap or detergentSupply is carried 4by the hand of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forwashing vehicles or the.

like in which the soap or detergent containing chamber and the controlmeans therefor is detachably mounted on the back of Ythe hand of theuser; leaving the hand free to grasp either a sponge or the like for thewashing operation or a rag for the drying operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a Washingapparatus for vehicles or the like which is so constructed and arrangedthat Vthe discharge of soap or detergent is into and through a Sponge orrag grasped by the user and in which the rinsing and drying operationsemploy a discharge outlet remote from the point of soap or detergentdischarge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatuscarried to the back of the hand of the user which is constructed andarranged to be connected by a single flexible tube to a valve structureattached to the Waist line ofthe user, which valve structure is adaptedto supply either water or compressed air or combinations thereof throughsaid tube to the portion of the apparatus mounted on the hand of theuser.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described, by way of example, in the following specificationand illustrated inV the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the apparatus as mounted on or carriedby a user,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, inlet end view of that por- 2 tion of theapparatus carried by the hand of the user,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional, view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary, transverse, sectional end elevationstaken, respectively, on the lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Fig. 3,

Figs 7 and 8 are front and rear elevations respectively, of that portionof the apparatus carried at the waistline of the user,

Fig. 9 `is an elevation of the outlet or discharge Side of that portionshown in Figs. 7 and 8,

Fig. 10 is a vertical Section taken on the line lG-HB of Fig. 9, and,

Fig. 1l is a vertical section taken on either of the lines Il ll of Fig.10; the valve being shown in open position. Referring first to Fig. 1,the apparatus consists of a hand unit A, a unit attached to thewaistline of the user, hereinafter calledy the belt unit B and laflexible tube C connecting the units A and B. The unit B is further lback of the hand as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

provided with a pair of inlet ports adapted to be connected to flexiblelines 0r hoses D and E which 4at their other ends are connectedrespectively to supply sources of Water and compressed air.

Referring next to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, the hand unit A includes arub-ber pad I adapted to t on the back of the hand of the user; the padrbeing formed with an elastic strap portion 2 eX- washer l is embeddedand vulcanized in place with its threaded portion `disposed concentricWith the hole 3. Adjacent its rear end (See Fig.

vr6) the pad l is further provided with a counterboredhole 5 having awasher 6 embedded at thev bottom of the counterbore.

Secured to the side of the pad remote from the hand of the user is thebody l of a valve and soap unit provided with a soap outlet nozzle 3having an exteriorly threaded portion 9 engaging the threads of thewasher i and having an exteriorly tapered portion l@ positioned andadapted 'to extend between the second and third fingers of the hand onwhich it is mounted. A screw l l having its head engaging the Washer andthreaded into e. hole l2 in the body member 'I `connects the rear endsofthe body member and the pad l. To assemble the body member tothe pad,the body member is rst screwed down into the washer as far as it will gowith the holes and l2 in alignment, after which the screw Ii is insertedand tightened.

The body member 'i oi the valve and soap unit is formed of a bar or"metal of rectangular cross section somewhat shorter than the pad i and,as shown in Fig. 3, is disposed substantially centrally of the pad. Atthe end adjacent the wrist of the user the body member is provided witha threaded inlet port i3 adapted to `be connected to one end of theiiexible tube C. ExtendinT from the inlet port E3 to the opposite end ofthe body member and disposed on the same axial line as the inlet port isa bore i5 which, adjacent vthe port i3, is intersected by a transverselydisposed, tapered bore i5 in which is journalled a tapered plug valvemember i5. .best shown in Fig. 5, this valve member is disposed with itslarge vend adjacent the pad I and flush with the face of the body 'E'and at its other end is pr .ridad with a slotted extension i? in theslot of which a handle I8 is secured by a cotter pin l5. A spring washer2e interposed between the adjacent faces of the handle S8 and the bodymember 'i serves tohold the valve member seated in the bore I5, andresilient ring gaskets 2l and 22 seated in peripheral grooves in eachend of the valve member and engaging the wall of the bore i5 serve toprevent leakage.

The valve member i5 is provided with a transverse bore 23 of the samediameter as the bore iii and in line therewith and with a smaller boredisposed at right angles to and intersecting one side of the bore 23,The body member l is further provided with a soap chamber 25 comprisinga relatively large bore extending parallel to the bore Iii from the sameend as the inlet port I3 and terminating adjacent the other end of thebody member in a slightly smaller', coaxial bore 25; the juncture of thebores forming a shoulder 2l on which a screen 2S carried by collar 25closely fitting within the bore 26 seated. The entrance end of the soapchamthreaded to engage a closure plug 3c havdat sided extension 3iadapted to be ena wrench and having a groove 32 in member ffcap chamberand the end oi the body member. The cody member l is further providedwith an angularly disposed bore 35 connecting the open *end of the soapchamber with the valve bore i5 at a point at right angles to the axis ofthe bore iii whereby, as will oe later xplained, water may be directedinto the soap ci amber, At the other end of the soap chamber, the bodymember l is provided with a threaded hole which extends from the side ofthe body member adjacent the pad i into the side ci the bore 25 intowhich threaded hole the threaded .end 3l of the soap discharge nozzle isscrewed prior to assembly with the pad I.

Thus when the valve i5 is in the position shown in Fig. 4l, waterentering through the inlet port i3 will be directed through the boresEil. 23 and 35 into the soap chamber 25 and thence through the screen 23and bore 25 out the soap discharge nozzle 8. In this connection it is tobe noted that the jet of water passing through the bore t5 is directedtoward the rear or plug end of the soap chamber, thus insuring that allor the soap placed therein will be used up. When the valve I5 is turneda quarter turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the bores2s and t5 will be cut c-i and the bore 23 will be in line with the 4bore I4, permitting the discharge of a stream of rinsing water or of ablast of air through the .bore I4 out of the end of the body member "Ias will be later explained in more detail.

Referring now to the belt unit B shown in Figs. 7 to l1, inclusive, theunit comprises a body member 38 having a water inlet port 39, an airinlet port 4B and an outlet port lli; all of which are threaded forconnection with hoses D and E and the flexible tube C respectively.Extending inwardly from and vcoaxially of the inlet ports 35 and 4Brespectively are parallel bores 2 and 43 which 'at their inner ends, asshown in Fig. 10, are intersected by a bore fili extending inwardly fromand coaxially of the outlet port fil. Intermediate their ends, the bores52 and 43 are intersected by tapered valve bores IE5 and 45 respectivelyin which are seated 'taper plug valve members il and `4S havingtransverse bores t9 and 5d adapted to be brought into and out ofregistry with the bores i2 and i3 respectively. As best shown in Fig.1'1, these valve members are arranged with their large ends flush withone side of the body member SS and at their other ends are provided withslotted extensions 5I and 52 in which handles 53 and 56 are secured bycotter pins 55 and 55. Spring washers 5l and 58 disposed between thehandles and the body member 38 serve to hold the valve members seated intheir bores and resilient gasket members 55 and Ell near each end ofeach of the valve members and engaging the walls of the valve bores d5and 55 serve to prevent leakage.

It will be seen that by opening the valve t1 and closing the valve Vt8 astream of water will be delivered through the lexible tube C, and thatby closing the valve 41 and opening the valve 48 a blast of air will bedelivered in the same manner. Additionally, in cleaning mud and the likefrom the underside o'f fenders and other parts of a vehicle whereadditional velocity is desired both valves may be opened to the desireddegree to produce a blast of combined air and water.

The belt vunit B is provided with a spring clip 6I which is vattached byscrews 62-52 to the upper face of the vbody member 38 and thence extendsdownwardly along the side face of the body member opposite the valve'handles and 5o and terminates in an .outwardly turned lip portion 63.This spring clip permits the belt unit to be quickly attached to thebelt of the user and to be as quickly detached. Positioned at the sideof the'user as shown in Fig. l, the valve handles 53 and 54 arelocatedso as not to interfere with the use of the apparatus and at thesame time are easily reached for such adjustment and manipulation as theuse of the apparatus may require.

Apparatusof this character lis particularly useful in service stationsand the capability of quick attaching and dota-ching of the apparatusmakes it desirable in that the attendant may quickly stop washing acar-and serve a customer and as quickly re-attach the apparatus andcontinue the washing operation. The mounting of the unit Bon the belt ofthe user is desirable in thatvonly a short light weight single hose ortube needrextend to the .hand unit thus relieving the hand of thenecessity of dragging the weight of the air and water -hoses if theywere attached directly to the .hand and .contributing to the ease ofmanipulation of the hand unit. Additionally the .danger of marring thesurface by dragging a heavy hose across it is eliminated.

.In use, the soap chamber is rst lled with soap; the soap preferablybeing in a solid or semisolid cake in the form of a cylinder of suchsize that it will loosely fit the soap chamber, the plugr is theninserted and tightened after which the belt and hand units are attachedto the belt and hand of the user. Then the user grasps a sponge or ragwith the hand on which the hand unit is mounted and opens the valve 41and adjusts the Valve l E to deliver water through the soap chamber withresultant discharge of soapy water out of the nozzle onto and throughthe sponge or rag and onto the surface being washed. The user thenproceeds to wash an area of the car or other object being washed andafter a suflicient area has been washed, the valve I6 is adjusted to cutoil the soap chamber and to project a stream of rinsing water on thewashed area after which the valve 41 is closed and the valve 48 isopened to deliver a blast of air through the tube C and the bore I4 ofthe hand unit to blow off surplus water and to dislodge water fromcrevices and from behind trim strips preparatory to nal drying andpolishing of the surface. paratus may be turned oi completely and thesponge exchanged for a polishing cloth to complete the cleaning of thatarea.

The foregoing description of the operation is the usual sequence ofprocedure, but in practice it may be necessary, for example, to wash oian accumulationof mud or other dirt from the surface to be cleaned bythe use of the water alone or by the combination of water and air beforeproceeding with the use of soap. Whatever the requirements of aparticular surface may be, the user of the apparatus has fingertipcommand of the necessary elements to do the job. In the foregoingspecication reference has constantly been made to soap and soap chamberbut it will be understood that these terms are intended to includedetergent compounds other than soap.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention,I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth,and the invention embraces such changes, modications, and equivalents ofthe parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purviewof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a Washing apparatus for cleaning vehicles and the like, a unitadapted to be attached to the hand of the user and having an inlet portadapted to be connected to a source of water supply; said unitcomprising a pad element formed to lie on the back of the hand, a strapportion connected to said pad and adapted to extend across the palm ofthe hand and operative to hold said pad on the back of the hand of theuser, body member fixed to said pad at the side thereof opposite theside in contact with the hand and having an inlet port at one endadapted to be connected to a source of water supply, a bore extendingfrom said inlet port to the opposite end of said body member, a threeway valve in said bore, a soap chamber in said body member, a dischargenozzle extending from said soap chamber through said pad, a removableller plug closing one end of said soap chamber, and a fluid passageconnecting said soap chamber with said valve said valve being manuallyoperable to direct fluid received from said inlet port to said bore orto said soap chamber through said passage or to shut off the flow ofuid.

2. In a washing apparatus for cleaning vehicles and the like, a unitadapted to be attached to the hand of the user and having an inlet portadapted to be connected to a source of water supply; said *unitcomprising a pad element formed to lie on the back of the hand, a strapportion connected tosaid pad and adapted to extend across the palm ofthe hand and operative to hold said pad on the back of the hand of theuser, a body member xed to said pad at the side thereof opposite theside in contact with the hand and having an inlet port at one endadapted to be connected to a source of water supply, a bore extendingfrom said inlet port to the opposite end of said body member, a threeway valve in said bore, a soap chamber in said body member, a dischargenozzle extending from said soap chamber through said pad, a removablefiller plug closing one end of said soap chamber, and a fluid passageconnecting said soap chamber with Said valve; said valve comprising arotatable frustoconical plug seated in a frusta-conical bore and havinga series of transverse interconnecting ports disposed in a planecontaining said inlet port, bore, and the fluid passage leading to thesoap chamber and arranged that in one position of said valve waterentering said inlet port will be directed through said passage into saidsoap chamber and thence out of said discharge nozzle, and when inanother position, water entering said inlet port will be directedthrough said bore and out of the end of the body member.

3. In an apparatus for washing vehicles and the like, a unit adapted tobe attached to the back of the hand of the user and having an inlet portat one end adapted to be connected to a source of water supply, arinsing water nozzle at the other end of said unit, arranged to direct astream of water in the direction of the outstretched fingers of the handto which the unit is attached, a soap chamber in said unit extendingfrom said inlet port end to a point adjacent the other end of said unit,a soap solution discharge nozzle communicating with said soap chamber atsaid other end of said unit and extending outwardly therefrom at rightangles to said rst nozzle and terminating between two of the fingers ofthe hand on which the unit is mounted and manually operable valve meansadjacent said inlet port constructed and arranged to direct the flow ofwater from either said inlet port through said rinsing water nozzle orthrough said soap chamber and said soap solution dis charge nozzle.

LEO G. SIMMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,036,463 Dawson Aug. 20, 19121,242,905 Atkinson Oct. 16, 1917 1,343,490 Albertson June 15, 19201,344,364 Vis June 22, 1920 1,434,695 Gordon Nov. 7, 1922 1,587,873Stone June 8, 1926 1,620,698 Stone Mar. 15, 1927 1,655,585 Wagner Jan.10, 1928 2,209,861 Torbert July 30, 1940 2,301,691 Ellinger et al. Nov.10, 1942

